Public art and design features expression of interest

Wodonga Council is seeking expressions of interest from an experienced artist who lives, works and connects with the Albury-Wodonga community to develop an artwork/artworks and/or design features for the new gallery and library building.

The chosen artist will design and construct a public art artwork in a high visibility area connected to the one of the city’s most prominent and significant new public buildings.

Wodonga Council has recently secured funding to redevelop Arts Space Wodonga (Art Gallery) and Wodonga Library, two of the main facilities within the cultural precinct, to be significant amenities that service the community of Wodonga into the future.

The two-storey building will be built on the existing site and will feature an upgraded library space, two gallery exhibition spaces as well as community meeting and workshop rooms.

The community facility will meet the needs of residents and visitors, by providing essential civic services and increasing exposure to local arts and culture.

Key themes include:

Library theme: A library for the community

Gallery theme one: A gallery for children and young people

Gallery theme two: A gallery for the production and presentation of local and regional art

The precinct is an anchor of the southern end of the central business district and has more than 300,000 visitors each year. The redevelopment will not only meet the needs of our growing community but also provide the opportunity to promote an accessible and fit-for-purpose facility that provides a program of arts and culture to our residents and our visitors with the project is due for completion in 2021.

We are calling on local artists to express their interest for this program.

PLEASE NOTE: The commission fee for the artwork/artworks is $30,000 ex GST. and will include any further design fees, construction, engineering, storage, playsafe certification, transport and installation fees, all materials, any height/safety equipment, engineering computations costs and child safe standard costs. The successful artists will require their own Public Liability insurance.

Proposed timeline

April 3, 2020

Expression of interest process opens

April 24, 2020

Expression of interest process closes

May 8 to May 22, 2020

Shortlisting of applicants

May 22, 2020

Successful artist/artists to be notified

May 22 to May 29, 2020

Initial design consultations to commence with key stakeholders from the gallery, library and members from Wodonga Council

June 19, 2020

Artist/artists present designs concept and proposed budget for a fee of $500

June 30, 2020

Commission awarded to successful artist/artists

July 10, 2020

Design for the public artwork to be finalised

November 30, 2020

Studio visit and construction progress

May 30, 2020

Artwork to be insalled in the new building

Design guidelines

A specific theme has not been selected for the artwork, however the artwork should connect to the history of the site, either past present or future or communicate ideas about the significant role of libraries art galleries, art, culture and/or literature.

A brand identity is currently being developed for the new building which will include a brand architecture, name and visual brand identity. We hope to be in a position to share this with the successful artists to inform their thinking in the design phase of their artworks.

A significant design feature of the new building is the spiral staircase topped by a skylight which will intersect the second-floor gallery spaces. The design includes a courtyard to link with the existing courtyard and a second-floor terrace. The large tree that is a significant feature in The Cube Wodonga courtyard is planned to remain.

The architecture of the new building includes materials include corten steel, black mat steel, and recycled red bricks. Artists should develop concepts that are sympathetic to the palate and materials of the exterior and interior of the building in their design.

Artists can select a combination of one or more artworks and /or design features to express interest in, however the total combined value must not exceed $30,000 ex GST.